Package of pastelike material



March 17, 1953 A. A. KLIPPERT ETAL PACKAGE 0F PASTELIKE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 12, 1949 INVENTORS 4NDRWA KL IPPERT Russzu PM 6H/E E/IRL L. RICHARDSON EWIE EIA Y K ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 PACKAGE OF PASTELIKE MATERIAL Andrew A. Klippert, Hollis, and Russell P.

McGhie, New York, N. Y., and Earl L. Richardson, Bound Brook, N. .L, assignors to Colgate- Palmolive-Peet Company, Jersey City, N. J., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1949, Serial No. 121,018

4 Claims.

This invention relates to packages and more particularly to a nove1 and improved receptacle or container for packaging semi-solid or pasty material, for example creams, emulsions, etc.

The invention will be particularly described with respect to the packaging of cosmetic antiperspirant creams, but it will be obvious the invention is also applicable to the packaging of other materials of similar nature.

In the merchandising and distribution of antiperspirant creams, generally comprising aqueous emulsions of fatty material and inorganic salts, it is conventional practice to put up the product for distribution and use in small moisture-tight containers such as may be made of metal, glass or moldable plastic material.. The container is substantially completely filled with the cream preparation and after applying a relatively thin inner disc or sheet to the surface of the cream the packaging is completed by applying .a removable closure cap thereto. To confine the cream within the container and prevent it from seeping or flowing between the top or neck por tion of the container and the closure cap, it is also customary to provide the cap with a liner made of suitable resilient, liquid-impervious material, which extends over the edges or periphery of the container and is pressed tightly there against when the cap is affixed in place. In this manner the container is eifectively sealed and the cream preventedfrom escaping into the cap portion of the container.

While such container construction provides a satisfactory method of sealing the contents within the container at difiiculty has arisen. in that by reason of the substantially complete filling of the container with the cream preparation and application of the closure cap, the cap liner is brought in close proximity to the inner disc and as a result a capillary space is formed therebetween. This formation of a small capil la-ry space, which is on the order of a few ten thousand-ths of an inch or so, results in a capillary action on the cream wherebythe water and/or oily liquid constituent of the cream is bled off from the body thereof upwardly and outwardly around the edges of the inner disc and collecting on top of the inner disc as well as on the under surf-ace side of the cap liner.

"Where, for example, a flat inner sealing disc was placed on top ofan anti-perspirant cream preparation of the emulsion type, which disc was of slightly less diameter than the inside diameter of the container, and the closure cap fixed thereto, after a few days storageit was found upon opening the container that the top of the inner disc and underside of the cap liner were wet with liquid material bled from the emulsion. This wetting of .the cap liner and inner covering disc is highly objectionable in that it notonly tends to change the constitution of the cream preparation, and such as in certain cases may bring about segregation of the constituents, but it also causes sticking of the inner disc to the cap liner and otherwise interferes with the removal of the closure cap. Aside from this, the wetting effect makes the merchandise unsightly when the closure is firs-t removed for use by the customer. The present invention overcomes this defect for all practical purposes while retaining the advantages derived by substantially completely filling the container and packaging the material ashas heretofore been described.

In accordance with the invention, the difficulties encountered are avoided by providing means disposed between .the cap liner and the inner disc for interrupting the capillary action otherwise produced. Capillarity, as is known, depends upon the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid phase for each other and for those of the solid (which in this instance comprises the inner disc, cap liner and side walls of the container) and will vary with diiierent liquids and/ or solids. In the cream type anti-perspirant preparations described it has been found that this objectionable capillary action is effectively overcome by enlarging the space between the cap liner and inner disc preferably near to or adjacent the uppermost inner wall portion of the container as by providing the inner disc member with raised segments, bosses, projections or embossed portions, which are arranged to contact the under surface of the closure cap liner and prevent the same from engaging the inner disc, or approaching sufficiently close thereto to cause the capillary action described. spacing the liner and inner disc .apart even as much as 0.005 of an inch has been found to be effective in breaking the capillary action. Smaller spacings may be used but with less effect. in this manner the formation of a, capillary space between the members is prevented, or if formed around the edges of the inner disc, is interrupted at the enlarged space created by the raised portions on the disc. The undesirable bleeding effect is thus overcome without the necessity of employing larger containers or changing the filling methods or construction of the container. Where no cap liner is employed, similar provisions may be made to properly space the cap from the inner disc so that it does not so closely engage the same as to create a capillary space therebetween. Further, if desired, the spacing means may be applied or preformed on the underside of the cap liner or, where no liner is used, suitably raised segments or sections on the inner disc or underside of the cap may be utilized to properly space the cap from the inner disc to prevent .this capillary action.

The spacing required to avoid capillary action, such as for example in packaging an anti-perspirant cream preparation and having the consistency of ordinary cold cream, was found to be effective where the inner disc comprise-d embossed spacing-segments extending about 0.005 to 0.10 of an inch above the surface of the body portion of the disc. For different cream type compositions, this spacing may be desirably increased or decreased depending upon the particular material and to some extent upon the size of the container.

In .the drawings there are shown several embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 is an exploded view partly in perspective of a package of anti-perspirant cream as contained in a glass jar and embodying the novel features of the invention, the cover or closure cap being shown in section to illustrate the construction thereof more clearly. Figure 2 is 'a vertical section view through the package and illustrating the closure cap in position to efiectively seal the container preparatory to distribution or storage of the preparation. Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the preferred construction of the inner disc member which is placed on the surface of the cream. Figure 3A is :a vertical section view through the disc illustrated in Figure 3, the body of the disc and raised segments being shown diagrammatically. Figures 4 and 5 are plan views of two modifications of the inner disc member, and Figures 4A and 5A are vertical sections of the disc shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively, the disc and raised portions being shown diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a container package for anti-perspirant cream is shown in Figures 1 and 2 which embodies the novel features of construction of the invention. The container and accompanying parts, the relative dimensions of which have been exaggerated and certain parts shown diagrammatically to better illustrate the invention, comprises a glass jar i0 having a cylindrical body I l for receiving the cream preparation and a :contracted or neck portion I2. .In the form of container illustrated, the contracted portion :42 .has exterior screw threads 13 adapted to be engaged by the complimentary inwardly extending annular flange M on the skirt of a removable closure cap l5, the arrangement .and construction being of .the usual and well known type. The closure cap 15 is provided :with a liner l6 which is retained in the cap by the annular flange M, as illustrated in Figure -1. The cap liner 1 fiywhich is preferably made of moisture-proof paper having a backing of cellulose pulp, cork, or the like to provide a resilient member, has a diameter such that the liner extends across the edges of the jar, and is of sufiicient thickness so that when the .cap 155.5 threaded onto the jar the liner will engage the periphery of the jar and form a moisture-tight closure therefor. A liner serving the same purpose may be made using metal foil backed with cork or cellulose pulp.

To protect the surface of the cream preparation and give it a pleasing appearance upon first opening of the jar by the customer, an inner thin disc member l'i' isplaced on top of the cream as indicated in Figures 1 and '2. This inner disc I! preferably comprises a thin paper-like moisture proof material such as cellulose acetate, unplasticized Vinylite resin or the like, the disc having a diameter such that it adequately covers the surface of the cream but does not engage over the edges of the jar.

The inner disc I? is provided with raised segments is which are suitably embossed in the disc, so that when the disc is placed on the surface of the cream the raised segments will be uppermost, thus providing the spacing means which prevents the cap liner I6 from closely engaging the inner disc and setting up the capillary action described In the illustration shown the inner disc I! comprises a thin sheet having a thickness of about 0.005 of an inch and having embossed spacing segments it raised above the surface of the disc approximately 0.0(15 inch. It will thus be appreciated that by the provision of a relatively small space between the cap liner and inner disc on the surface of the cream the capillary action is satisfactorily overcome;

Modifications of the inner disc constructions are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 4 the spacing means consists of an annular ring 19 embossed in the disc, whereas in'Figure 5 the spacing means is provided for by the raised letters 20 which may be suitably preformed in the disc member as by embossing or the like.

The inner disc is preferably made as thin as possible and the height of the raised segments kept at a minimum so as to accomplish the purpose without sacrificing filling space for the material. Further, if desired, the inner disc as well as the cap liner may be formed of metal, paper .or paper product which can be readily fabricated into the desired shape and thickness. The inner disc preferably is made of material which may be formed into thin fiat discsor shapes such as will cover the surface of the cream in the container and have sufficient rigidity to support the embossed segments in position to maintain the proper spacing of the inner disc from the cap liner during storage and distribution to the customer.

While there is shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention and certain specific forms are illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes and substitution of mate rials and construction may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended to cover such equivalent variations and not to be limited other than as called for in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for materials of a pasty or semisolid nature which tend to bleed comprising a container filled with the material to be packaged, said container having a neck provided with an outer rim defining an opening, a closure cap removably mounted on said container, and a fiat inner disc member having, a diameter less than the inner diameter of the rim of the container, one face of said disc being in contact with the surface of said material and the other face of said disc being furnished with projection means inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of said disc for providing a non-capillary space between said closure cap and the other face of said disc member for interrupting capillary action therebetween.

2. A package for materials of a pasty or semisolid nature which tend to bleed comprising a container filled with the material to be packaged, said container having a neck provided with an outer rim defining an opening, a closure cap removably mounted on said container, a liner secured in said cap, and a flat inner disc member having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the rim of the container, one face of said disc being in contact with the surface of said material and the other face of said disc being furnished with raised means inwardly spaced from the peripheral edge of said disc for spacing said other face of the disc from said liner a distance sufficient to prevent capillary action therebetween upon the application of said closure cap.

3. A package for materials of a pasty or semisolid nature which tend to bleed comprising a container filled with the material to be packaged, said container having a neck provided with an outer rim defining an opening, a closure cap removably mounted on said container, a liner secured in said cap, and a flat inner disc member having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the rim of the container, one face of said disc being in contact with the surface of said material and the other face of said disc being furnished with a raised pattern of substantially uniform height throughout adjacent to but spaced from the periphery of said disc which is adapted to space said liner from the said other face of the 6 disc and interrupt capillary action therebetween upon application of said closure cap.

4. A receptacle for storage and distribution of materials of a pasty or semi-solid nature which comprises a compartment filled with the material, said compartment having a neck provided with an outer annular rim defining an opening, a

. closure cap removably mounted thereon, a liner secured in said cap, and a fiat inner disc member having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the rim of the container, one face of said disc being in contact with the surface of the said material and the other face of said disc being furnished with a plurality of embossed spacing segments extending about 0.005 to 0.10 of an inch above the face of the disc, said segments being arranged in a ring-like pattern adjacent to but inwardly positioned from the periphery of said disc for spacing said liner from the said other face of the disc a distance sufficient to prevent capillary action between the disc and said liner.

ANDREW A. KLIPPERT. RUSSELL P. McGHIE. EARL L. RICHARDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,931,595 Weguelin Oct. 24, 1933 2,196,486 Anderson Apr. 9, 1940 2,200,991 Lieber May 14, 1940 2,358,270 Wild Sept. 12, 1944 

